- Date
- June 12, 2004, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Joliet, IL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1970KLuscombe 8E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 1, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-DuPage FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040612012389A
- Case key
- 59562
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff and the subsequent failure to maintain aircraft control during the encounter with the standing water. Contributing factors were the standing water and the soft runway condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft was substantially damaged when it nosed over during takeoff roll. The pilot reported that as he attempted to takeoff the aircraft encountered standing water on the turf runway and nosed over. He noted that he did not see the water on the runway prior to initiating the takeoff roll. The airport manager reported that the runway was saturated due to heavy rains the night prior to the accident. In addition to runway 4-22, the airport was served by runway 12-30 (2,937 feet by 100 feet, asphalt). Winds recorded at the airport at 1505 hours were from 340 degrees at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
On June 12, 2004, approximately 1500 central daylight time, a Luscombe 8E, N1970K, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during takeoff roll on runway 22 (3,228 feet by 140 feet, turf) at Joliet Regional Airport (JOT), Joliet, Illinois. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported that as he attempted to takeoff the aircraft encountered standing water on the turf runway and subsequently nosed over. He noted that he did not see the water on the runway prior to initiating the takeoff roll. He stated that there were no malfunctions associated with the aircraft prior to the accident.
The airport manager reported that the runway was saturated due to heavy rains the night prior to the accident. He reported observing standing water on the runway while at the accident scene. The airport had not issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) concerning the runway condition prior to the time of the accident.
In addition to runway 4-22, the airport was served by runway 12-30 (2,937 feet by 100 feet, asphalt).
Winds recorded by the JOT Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at 1505 were from 340 degrees at 5 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1970K
- Reported as
- Luscombe 8E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4697
- Airframe hours
- 2,237
- Engine
- Continental C85-12F, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 2, 2003 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- JOT · Joliet, IL
- Destination
- JOT
- Airport
- JOT · Joliet Regional Airport, runway 22, 3,228 × 140 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 80
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- August 22, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,871 total · 977 in this make and model · 1,800 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.87 inHg
- Observed at
- JOT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.